The Year 2006!

What a year !

It started out with a Trip to Las Vegas , our very First CHA for the store. It was a blast!

Then Josh turned 6 years old and it was quite a learning year.

Kate and I did allot of improvements on the house this year , the bedroom got a face lift and the living room a new coat of paint, a new sofa and curtains. We just need to change the flooring and it will be complete. Well except for the fact that Kate wants to knock down the wall.

Summer brought our annual trip to Rehoboth beach , which is always the best of times. I love the people that go and we didn't know it then , but it would be possibly the last time we all get to go together. Which makes me sad. There will only be 6 of us going this year due to some issues with some of the couples time wise and financial issues. But we will always have fun in RB and we will miss those not with us. Who knows maybe new people will join in our tradition.

The fall came and Josh was swallowed by the big yellow monster! I still remember that feeling that day that I lost a little piece of my baby. And I didn't know how true that was , but he is growing up so fast. 1st Grade has shown me how much. He is developing his own little personality and making some of his own choices. He has to learn how to make his own decisions when I am not around, and you can only sit back on some things and let him do that. It is hard and painful sometimes, and other times you kinda beam knowing that you have given some of the morals, values and tools for him to make the right choices.

We are having a very mild winter this year and we had a fantastic holiday open house once again. It was over flowing with people and Kate and I just love to see our friends and families pile in our house till it burst. Each year we see our ole friends that come every year and also invite in new friends that we have met thru the year. It is a wonderful blend of our life and a great way to measure your life. Friends are very important to us. Sometimes you wonder who your true friends are, but we know with each year that comes and goes , we have some of the most wonderful people in the world in our life. That is what is important.

So as 2006 comes to a close and 2007 waits to open new doors and adventures, I hope you can also reflect on some great times in 2006, and look at 2007 as another year to make even more great memories.

Whatever you do to celebrate , have fun and please be safe!!

Our Christmas was so wonderful!

View Smilebox

Made this little card for all of you to enjoy !

We are ready Santa!!

Our house is ready for Santa! We did some things different this year, and we are loving it.
The tree is so beautiful , Kate and Josh did alot of the ornaments , and everything is perfect!

Some of our favorite Holiday things here!

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Nothing better then a pajama day to do the decorations. Josh was really into decorating the tree this year, I enjoyed his excitement as he hung each ornament with care. I am so glad he still believes, and honestly I hope he doesn't tell me when he doesn't anymore. I will be sad when that part of the magic is gone. So I am going to enjoy each and every year and look back on all the magic the season brings!

It just doesn't get cuter then this!

Losing your first tooth! I don't remember as a child losing any of my teeth , but if I was half as excited as Josh was then it was a great time. He worked on it for a good 15 minutes, then came back from brushing his teeth with it in hand. Jumping up and down and so excited that there was no longer one tooth in his mouth. It is amazing what kids think about these things. While they are so excited because it means they are getting older, bigger . I felt that little sadness that he is getting older and bigger. I went right to the first time we saw this little tooth coming in at 4 months old. Now it has run a cycle and is no longer there. Life is truly amazing , it is the little things that makes up the big thing called life. I am so frigin blessed to be able to watch this amazing little person grow every inch. There truly is nothing more amazing and wonderful. It makes all the other things seem so small.
People often ask me how I do " it " . I must say it is because of Josh. When I get angry or upset about everyday things, things not going exactly how I want, people letting me down. I must say I just go to my happy place. The place where I remember many conversations with God , asking for a miracle , asking for Josh. I remember not really caring about anything else. So when I get fustrated with people or things, I just remember that it too will pass, and I get to come home and see my little guy. There is nothing that can compare to that. Enjoy the holiday season! Less then 2 weeks to go.

We found our Christmas Tree!

We found out Christmas Tree!
We found out Christmas Tree! You have to love an hour when everything you expected it to be ...it is!I find that those moments happen a little less these days, I am not complaininglife just happens and you just can't control the minutes most of the time.SO when you plan something out and it goes according to how you wanted it to go, no one messes with it and you come out smiling. That is a GOOD time! You just have to sit back and cherish it. So here is one of those times. I wanted to share.



Tonight we are going to start decorating and we will share our christmas home soon. Hope this holiday season brings you peace and joy.

Believe!

As Josh says, " How can you not believe in Santa....who else could do everything he does?"

Gotta love fall!!

Gotta love it , a day as an adult you dread.....cleaning up all the leaves that fall. But all it takes is one kid to remind you what fun it can be also. Josh continues to show me how great it is to be a kid. You can just hear him saying ..."Kowabunga dude" ....can't you ??
Then this sweet face looks up at me thru the leaves and I am once again reminded how frigin wonderful a son I have, and all the joy he has brought to my life. I just can't imagine life without him.
How can I not look at those eyes and see the most amazing boy in the whole world. He has changed my life forever, just as each season changes the outdoors.
He is always thinking, here he saw Kate throwing leaves off the porch and saw the metal dogs dish laying there. Why wouldn't you pick that dish up and catch the leaves??

That was such a fun day ...and now I just talked to Kate and she is away this week for 4 days. I miss her bunches. Wrestling practice is in full swing and we are looking forward to another great season. Have lots of projects going on here in the ole scrap studio and enjoying them all .

Happy Birthday Mom!! Love ya.

Memories keep you looking to the future...

Happy times, hugs and fun. I love looking at pictures, I love having memories.
Sometimes thru the day I get tired. Running the store, coming home doing homework with Josh, then dinner to be made and eaten. Wrestling practice, cleaning. Checking in on the message board. Doing the ordering that needs to be done on line. Writing the list for tommorrow. Answering emails.
I am really trying to find the time to scrapbook more. To just print out some pictures and scrapbook them. But I am finding even when I find the time, I am organizing more then doing. By the time I get to sit down and be in my studio, It is piled with collections of things that got thrown there, because that is all the time I had to do. I have been digging thru those piles and getting them in places. I know the time is coming that I can do what I love.
I get in this place every once in a while, I start to wonder is it worth it. Putting in 5 or 6 days a week running a store. I don't have much time to do what I really love to do create. When I do get some time I am so tired I can't create. I keep thinking I will find the balance, I will get it together. I am going to try a few things soon. I am going to start taking a day off here and there at random and not plan any running around but actually stay home , or be with a girlfriend and replunish "me" .
I am so blessed, I love my soul mate Kate. My son Josh is the most precious gift I have ever been given, he is my heart. I go to a place each day that is so much more then a job. It is a love.
I have met some incredible womyn in the past few years, some are becoming my best friends.
So if you are ever feeling a little overwhelmed.....look back at a few pictures that make you smile.
Off to make some Stuffed Green Pepper soup and Pumpkin Pie Fudge...
Peace out !

America speaks........

As I am going to here...WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! We have great hope as we awake this morning !!!
Oh I know by next week , or next year we could be just as bad off as we are right now....but again my faith is restored in Americans. They actually showed last night they are TIRED , FED UP and need a change !!!!
John Carey might have botched a joke , but Bush had botched so much more ....including a war.

Record turn outs !!! That's what it takes to get the true pulse of America. I am so proud of everyone that voted. You make those womyn that fought for us to vote PROUD!

I know there are people that disagree and they are not happy with the results, but just as we had to swallow the hard pill when Bush won , we now get a happy pill and we can now have hope.

Maybe we can start to repair , maybe we can find a way to end this war. Maybe just maybe.

I have to say when I heard Cheney say "no matter the outcome , this administration willl continue full speed ahead" . I think ole Dick has forgotten....the PEOPLE get to say what speed we go ...and I believe they have spoken !!! NOT SO FAST ...DICK!!!

Now we need to start a campaign.....Put all these damn negative ads , and flyers and everything else down. Use the money you use to put someone else down and make a fund for the hungry , the sick the homeless!!! It would be amazing what we could do with that money used for no good and make it for the good !!!

So I hold my head high today , I just wish that Bush and his "administration " would get it . America wants change and they don't like the direction it is going in . So LISTEN to the people , be the President ...this is not YOUR country it is OURS !!!

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....so how bout this weather !!

Looking at things....

Well it has been an interesting few days.
Kate flew out to see her Mom this weekend , so it was just Josh and I . I thought we would do a few fun things together and just hang out a little. I knew Josh would be missing Mommy and I was looking forward to spoiling him a bit . Well the best layed plans can go so wrong. First I have been fighting a cold this week , so I am a little worn down. Then Josh started getting it too, coughing a bit and I could tell he was not feeling all that great. Well Friday rolled around and we said goodbyes to Mommy , Josh went to school and I started my day. Then came the paper I pulled out of Josh's backpack ...."Josh poked a student with a pencil" Josh proceeded to explain that the other child gluesticked his desk. I called the teacher , we talked. She is VERY good. I was made aware that she has told the children she didn't want any "tattletailing" Now to a six year old...that means telling on anyone. So Josh said he didn't tell her about the gluesticking , because that would be tattletailing. So I have tried to explain the difference , and the teacher will also on Monday. We also talked about it not being acceptable to poke someone with a pencil.
It is so hard to teach all this stuff, it was difficult to explain the difference between tattletailing and telling the teacher things she needs to know . I hope I covered it . It is such a fine line. Alot for his little mind I am sure.
Josh has been having a bit of a problem making good decisions lately. I have noticed a little "rebel" coming out. He has not been listening as well as usual. (not that it was perfect) but it just slowly has been getting worse. This weekend being alone with him just magnified it somewhat. Being the only parent , no one else but him and I together ...no one else to take a shift really made it the big picture. I would ask him to do something and he would either ignore me or just keep doing what he was doing , or argue about what I wanted him to do . I would ask him nicely about 3 or 4 times ....then and only if I would yell would he even move. I just hate to yell , I end up feeling so low everytime I have to yell to get his attention. Do you ever just break down crying once you are alone ? Do you just feel like the worse parent in the world ? Do you think you will never just be able to get thru? I felt all those things this weekend. I just wanted to crawl in a hole , I couldn't tell Josh how bad I was hurting . I had no one to really bounce it off from.
I don't know how single parents do it. It just would suck. I don't ever want to be one.
Now Josh is in bed , asleep hopefully having sweet , sweet dreams. I love him soooooooooooo much . I want him to always know that , and I hope he does. He told me today that I was always fair, even when I had to send him to his room . He was so damn cute. At one point today after he had a time out , he came out and said ...Mom I miss you . Now we had been together all day , but I know what he was saying. So I know tommorrow is a whole new day and I know he will try hard tommorrow to do the things we talked about.
I can only hope that the lessons he is learning now are easier learned now rather then later. I know it is frigin hard on me . It actually sucks being the parent when you have to punish them. I wish they would just "get it" so we didn't have to .
I think I will go use some of this energy for good and organize my scraproom.

Learning is amazing and other things....

This year is such a "learning" time. Not only for Josh who went into the first grade in one big leap with both feet , but also for his 2 moms. Everyday is an experience....and experience that I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would be in . It is very strange to see him learning things that we have nothing to do with . Example : Yesterday he came home with a test paper where he had to circle a former president. He circled Abe Lincoln. Then he had to identify the present president. He put an X thru George Bush. We didn't teach him those things. He learned it in school.
Then as we are driving last night he asked me "Who are you voting for in the election , Mom? "
After I got over the initial shock that this was coming from my little guy in a booster seat . I told him . He then proceeded to say that , that is who he is voting for also , because they are having thier own election at school . So to take it a step further , I asked him why he would vote for this person. He then told me " Because he has more experience and good ideas" Well I guess that sums it up !
I can only imagine many conversations with Josh , we have already had some really great ones while driving to places. I know I keep saying it , but he is just an amazing little guy , one that I know is going to accomplish great things. He is so thirsty for all this place has to offer and wants to soak it all in .
There are crazy times that he also reminds me that is just 6 and can't find his socks , or remember where he left his library book . He quotes Sponge Bob scenes word for word, and he does other things that makes his Moms just shake thier heads.
But I must say ...my life would be so boring and so empty without him , I can't even imagine life without one miracle such as we have .
Peace out !

Everyone do the Robot !!

Now this is what Halloween is all about. Smiling faces, and little ones having fun !!

Josh and Declan had so much fun tonight ...my feet hurt !! We must of visited about 40 houses and each one was better then the next. What a great neighborhood, they really enjoyed the kids and seeing all the costumes. J & D got great compliments on their costumes, and Josh got two " That is the best costume of the night" comments.

People were in awe of the silver box . They made comments like , "that is so awesome" , "Did you make that" , "what a great idea" . They made me feel so great about the time that Josh and I spent making this costume. I enjoyed it so much . I know it is a halloween he will remember also. At the end of the night riding home he told me he had a GREAT time tonight Mom.

That just made me smile even more .

Now , on the topic bad blogger. Sorry to the two people that read my blog :) I haven't been good about blogging lately. Not that I don't have something to say ....but the time to do it in is the issue. It seems every evening that I think I might get to it ...it is 10 or 11 o'clock before I realize it . I was just looking ahead at this week and realized , one night halloween , next is wrestling practice , then we have one night and Kate has a business night . It is just very busy.

So in other news, Kate and I got a fun day playing golf on Monday . I hadn't swung my clubs in 2 years but some of it came right back to me . I really enjoyed the day and the colors of the trees right now are just breath taking . So here's to a great halloween ....hope you got plenty of treats!

last football game of the season

Yep it is over for 2006. It was such a great year!!! Josh has grown so much and as an athlete and football player he just got it this year. I know it is crazy to be talking about a 6 year old as an athlete. But I must say since he was 2 and running and throwing the ball around , we just knew he was going to be a little boy who loved sports. Oh yeah in the back of my mind I really wanted this for him . I love sports and it was one of those things in my childhood that probably got me thru some really hard times. I always had sports and it was one thing I was very good at. I was so proud of myself when I would get all state or my name in the paper. It was one thing that no one could take away from me.
Oh yeah , what was I talking about .....Josh !
Yeah that's right.
I just loved talking the pictures every week , talking with the parents , cheering the kids on and watching how proud and happy they were everytime they came off the field. It truly was a great season , and bonus ....we went UNDEFEATED !!! 8-0 what a great job !!

Next year it will be helmets , pads and that cracking of helmets and pads. A sound I am already hearing ....I love football , but not so sure how much I will love it when some other little guy is tackling Josh. I just hope he gives more then he gets !! Giving is so much better , right ?!

So here is to you Greenjackets ! AWESOME JOB!!

Mr. Amazing !

Simply amazing ! He is reading more and more every day !

I am in awe of him , each and every word that he reads.

I know other kids read, yes I know that some even read better then him.

But , they are not him. He is just amazing !

I got to go to school this past week and spend a couple hours with him in his class.

It was very strange to see him in his class. He has a routine and stuck to it , even tho I was there.

He knew what he had to do , and even tho he would look at me and smile , he had tasks to complete and he stayed on task.

He just simply amazes me every single day .

Exercise!

Ok , so I am on my way to CURVES...for the 2nd time this week . 3 Times a week , 30 minute workouts.
I am going to do this !!!
Eating healthier , moving more !!

Football Saturday

I can't believe there is only one more game in the season. It seems so long to some but for us it is over too quick. He enjoys playing so much an we enjoy watching just as much !

It has been a great year with a great team , great coaches and wonderful parents. Sports are so great !!! I just think back 20 years ago....no where did I have thoughts at being at my son's football games. No where did I know what joy it would be having Josh. You truly never know what road life is going to bring you down. My only suggestion is to hold on to the wheel and enjoy the ride.



Josh ran for about 20 yards on Saturday . He has improved so much . He gets "turning the corner" The joy in his face as he strides down the field is so worth all the practice.

It is amazing to have a whole sideline of parents cheering for you as your run.

So as this great season comes to an end , it is sad in a way , but also it has some great memories.

I have over 1000 photographs to prove it .

bloggin about life....life is not bloggin

WOW ! I can't believe it has been a week since I blogged. I have thought about bloggin everyday. I have lots happening but just no time to sit down and actually write about it.
Life is so different now that Josh is in School , I am running the store and Kate is working
her 12-14 hour days also. I used to get so much done , now I am happy if I actually finish
one thing complete !
I have been working on the coach's book for Josh's football coach , I hope to get that done in a couple weeks . I am very proud of the layouts and they are all coming together so great.
Josh just continues to make me so proud. He is LOVING school now and his favorite subject is math ( takes after me there !) I love numbers. Also he is reading , I don't mean words here and there but books !!! It just amazes me that this little guy that we tried so hard to concieve is now reading ! This little guy I held in my arms , fed , changed diapers, watched take his first steps ..is READING !!! I am just in amazement. I know , I know ...just about everyone learns to read....but when you see it actually happening ...that is when you realize what a great thing it is to be able to read. It started with just singing the ABC's song...now reading .
Children are amazing ........and to see the smile on his face when he reads a word correctly ...to see the high 5's we give . I love seeing that on his face.

So that is what has been going on , with alot more stuff . Some fluff !

I will have to tell you about my first ever PTA meeting !!! Can you here Harper Valley PTA song playing in the background !!

so proud of josh ...

He has had a turn around week . This being a first grader has been tough on my little guy!
There is so much to learn about . So things easier then others. But tonight he told me that
he likes making new friends, learning and lunch and recess. That is so good to hear instead of
what I heard last week ....which was " I don't like school"
Today I heard " I love school" Also his thirst is back to get up and go to school . He is much happier when I see him get off the bus. I was so worried about him . He didn't smile when he got home. He didn't really look forward to going at all for the first month.
Now I can see that sparkle in his eye again.

It really made me think. For 6 years he has had me . He hasn't had to make those decisions about who would be his friends. I pretty much choose his friends thru the parents I liked.
He didn't have to eat fast , we often had some great conversations at lunch . Now he has about 20 mins and has to learn to eat then talk. Or I get alot of lunch brought back home. That has also changed this week , once I figured out that he needed to eat and not talk so much at lunch.
It is so hard to get full stories from a 6 year old. I think they feel they are going to get in trouble for things they tell you.
Then there is the whole thing about some kids are nicer then others. Josh didn't know what to do with all this emotion he was experiencing ...and all by himself. Sometimes it was hard to explain to me everything going on . But this week he has really found a new friend and they play alot together at recess and seem to really like one another. I am so happy for that ! He is even trying to teach his new friend how to listen to the teacher better ( seems his friend has a listening problem and is in trouble a bit )
Then the scarey conversations ....tonight it was about telling me a little girl showed him her underwear...he thought that was wrong. So I held my breathe and asked him what he did . He says " I told the teacher and she talked to her" WHEW!!! Altho I am still not thrilled that some little girl is showing my son her underwear , I was proud of him for knowing that it was wrong. It is so scarey to send them out there. We have always told Josh he can talk to us about anything , and I am glad he feels he can . Hope that line stays open , as I am thinking it is going to be very important in the years to come .
So as we have said all along ......we can only do so much as parents....now the test begins to see how we are doing . First report card at least a B+ !!
Hug them tight !!!

Saturday Rocked !

This girl can sing !! This is Krissy and she is my Friend's sister. We went to see her play this Saturday and this girl can belt out a tune or 100 !! I swear she can sing anything worth listening too. I usually hate it when people try to sing melissa E . They usually can't come close , but I have to hand it to Krissy , she nailed it every time !! I would travel again to see her play !!

This is Kim and J! Now you want to talk about a fun guy !!! He is a big crazy dude . It was good to see Kim smiling and having fun . This guy should go around and work with depressed people , I don't think there would be any more depressed people in the world ! J you rock !! So glad I got to meet you :)

This was the other part of our Weekend ...FOOTBALL!! We are now 5-0 and these guys played a tough team this week. They still came out way on top . I really love watching them step up their game when they need to.

Josh had a bit of a rough game , well one play where he forgot the play , paniced and threw the ball up in the air. He was very disapointed in himself , but we have two of the most wonderful coaches and they had him back in there playing the game again right away !

Grandma left today , she was here for 10 days and we had a great time . It was so great that she got to see Josh play two games. Aunt Neicey and Uncle Steve came up for the game saturday . We just had a fantastic day :)

I have been a bad blogger lately , it has been a bit crazy running the store and getting the event ready for January. By the time you are home , doing homework and then getting dinner , going to practice or just having some family time . Oh not to mention that darn housework or lawn care thing.

We are getting better , fall is settling somethings down . That is why I love the change of the seasons. It makes you slow down from the go go go of the summer.

I hope everyone is enjoying the fall . Get out and get some of that great fall folliage in your camera, it will look so good!

Have a great week !

Stillings scores two!!!

This is a picture of Josh making his first touchdown of the season !!

And here he is running for his 2nd touchdown of the day !! I felt my tears welling up for this one. I don't have a picture of him actually crossing the line on the second one , because I put down the camera to watch him.

Josh has been working out everyday. Ever since we took him to see the movie "Invinceable" he has been very inspired to be the very best he can be. He has a daily routine that he does consisting of sit ups, jumping jacks , push ups and running around the house. We live in the country so there is no place to actually run so he runs around the house. We also got him a small trampoline for in the house so he can jog in place.

We have told him that the harder you work at something , the better you will be. You get what you put into it, and all other inspirational saying we could think of. Well he has been listening and I was soooooooooooooo glad to see him score these two touchdowns. It showed him that working hard pays off. It was such a great lesson.

This is his last year of flag football and next year he puts on the pads and helmet. It will be a big change and I like he is getting stronger everyday , running faster and learning how to treat his body at a young age. I know in this day and age with lots of over weight , unhealthy children this is so important.

He is even inspiring me to excerise !!

Again my son just amazes me !!!

Just sitting back and beaming ....

A proud mom moment !

Josh's first scrapbook page.

Saturday ...football .....mohawks!

It must be Saturday !!! Football !! how is that face for a game face .

And you must admit , the mohawk just gets better every week .

Speaking of the week ....what a week it has been . I really miss having time to sit and blog . I must admit trying to get used to this schedule , is alot .

I love being home at 4 pm to get Josh off the bus , I love being able to cook dinner 4 nights a week. But it is a change to the stillings system. That 7 am wake up .., getting breakfast , then making lunch . Getting Josh on the bus and then getting myself going for the day .

I know it doesn't sound like it should be that hard. It is just a change to what we have been doing for 6 years. Josh had afternoon K and we did kinda what we wanted to .

We are getting the hang of it tho. I just have to adjust my sleeping habits and get to bed a bit earlier then 2 am !!

I want to give a shout out to all my great friends this week !! All of you that have called and offered your support and services ....you are the BEST !! You sometimes never realize how many great people you have surrounding you till you need them . Then as they say....the cream does rise to the top ! I thank you so much !!!

Well I am off to watch a movie . Hope I can stay awake :)

Today we remember .....

Today we remember ....

what we were doing 5 years ago ...

Today we remember....

how much our lifes have changed...

Today we remember ....

it will never be the same....

Today , I remembered 5 years ago at the same exact time I was watching the Today show in bed sipping some coffee. When it came on the screen , the crash of the first plane. I thought.. omg !
Then my friend Mary Ann called me to see if I saw it . We stayed on the phone with each other watching the 2nd plane , hearing about the pentagon and the other plane going down. There was alot of silence ...there was alot of thoughts. I know not once did we even think "terrorist" We just thought , awlful accident at first.

Josh was just a baby , just 18 months and was asleep in his bed. I protected him from this over the last 5 years. He will know soon enough how awlful it is. Why I freak out when he is out of my sight for one second.
We never leave one another without saying "love you "
So many of those things in life that seem to stumble us ...

Today seem so small....

Josh left for school today ....

He is now back home...

Today is a blessing ....live it as one .

It's saturday night.....

I just got home from hangin out with my gal pals.
We have a monthy club , book club.
We discuss Idea books and scrapbooking.
Tonight we didn't discuss much tho , just talked about
things and we all looked over the new book , Slice of life .
Great new idea book by Simple Scrapbooks.

Today was a great day , got to go and watch Josh play football!

We had alot of fun , I took over 200 photos.

I do love catching those shots of the boys playing .






I have been having a time with allergies. I am not sure
what I am allergic to , but boy twice a year it gets me good.
Just feels like my head is going to explode.

That's about it for tonight. Football season starts tommorrow ! YEEHAW!!